Survival system



April 6, 1965 J. s. WHITE ETAL SURVIVAL SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQRS JO/I/V sweaavr ry/re; 0,4140 66/5206 COO/E7? BY 7 77W ATTORNEYS April 6, 1965 J. 5. WHITE ETAL 3,176,935

SURVIVAL SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS JOHN SAMGHVI' l I/fl/FE; DAV/0 9%205 (00/ 5? ATTORNEYS April 6, 1965 J. 5. WHITE ETAL 3,176,935

' SURVIVAL SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1963 e Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 7 W, W 65$ 2 AT'rok ys A ril 6, 1965 J. 5. WHITE ETAL 7 3,176,935

SURVIVAL SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTORS JO/IN SARSE'NT tar/m2; 04140 SF/IEAOS 600, 52 i April 1965 J. 5. WHITE ETA]. 3,176,935

SURVIVAL SYSTEM Filed July 15, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS uOfl/V $426017 WH/iE .5;

DAV/0 577/1206 600/ 5,?

ATTORNEYS April 6, 1965 .1. s. WHITE ETAL SURVIVAL SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 15, 1963 viIIII mm Qmm S. 8 mg W mwm m f mm A Z M5 0 M 5, m6 wa Z aW l oll iwm United States Patent Office 3,17,935 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,?35 SURVIVAL SYSTEM John Sargent White, 1322 Berger Drive, Falls Church, Va, and David Shields Cooper, 426 Springmaun Drive, Fairfax, Va.

Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. N 294,833 17 Claims. (Cl. 244-31) This invention relates to a survival system and more particularly to a survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft. This invention also contemplates a survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining the crash victim comfortably afloat or lifting and maintaining him aloft, having means to stabilize or vary the altitude thereof when aloft.

In the prior art there are many different types of survival systems intended for the purpose of keeping afloat a per son forced down at sea. Most of such systems such as inflatable life jackets and life rafts, however, are useful merely as an aid to crash victims in keeping them afloat for a period of time but do not provide any substantial means for protecting such victims from the elements of the weather and the sea or provide a suitable means for aiding in the detection of such crash victims.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved survival system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved survival system suitable for protecting a crash victim from the elements of the Weather, the sea or other uninhabitable geographic areas.

A further object of this invention is to provide an im proved survival system which will aid in the detection of a crash victim forced down at sea or on land by visual or electronic devices including radar.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft, having means for stabilising the altitude of such system.

A still further object of tins invention is to provide an improved survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft, having means for varying the altitude of such system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved survival system for crash victims forced down at sea or on land, which is lightweight and compact.

Another object of this invention is to provide a survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining the crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining the crash victim aloft.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining the crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining him aloft, having means for stabilizing or varying the altitude of such apparatus when aloft.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining the crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining him aloft, which is lightweight, compact, simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi ment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational View of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 in a deflated form, adapted to be worn by the crash victim;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 2, having a portion thereof broken away;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the inflated capsule member of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the capsule member shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded View of the capsule member shown in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the capsule member shown in FIGURE 4, shown being utilized as a raft;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the control system of the preferred embodiment of the invention, having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view of the control system of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the buoyant means of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the connector means thereof, having a portion thereof broken away;

FIGURE 11 illustrates vertical cross-sectional views of the master control valve of the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the valve in a sequence of positions during the inflating operation of the invention; and,

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken along the line I212 in FIGURE 8.

In accordance with the broad aspects of the present invention, there is provided a survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft, generally comprising an inflatable support means for supporting the victim, an inflatable buoyant means connected to the support means, means for inflating the support means and the buoyant means, and means responsive to predetermined altitudes for selectively regulating the displacement of the buoyant means, thereby stabilizing the altitude of the sys tem. According to the preferred embodiment of the resent invention there is provided a survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining the crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining him aloft, generally comprising a girdle adapted to be worn and supported on the crash victim, an inflatable support means secured to the girdle and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body of the crash victim, inflatable buoyant means connected to the support means and foldable adjacent thereto when deflated, means for inflating the support means and the buoyant means, means connected to the girdle responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the displacement of the buoyant means when inflated, and releasable means for securing the support means and the buoyant means in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

Referring to the drawings there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGURE 1 illusstrates the assembled components of the system generally comprising an inflated capsule member 20 adapted to support the crash victim, which is connected to a circular array of spherical cells 21 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced shroud lines 22. The circular array of spherical cells 21 is provided with a circular band 23 to maintain them in their circular arrangement. Depending from the capsule member 20 is a nylon line 24 having a float 25 connected to the end thereof which is adapted to float on the surface of the water below and to emit a dye material 26 for detection purposes. The components illustrated in FIGURE 1 are adapted to be deflated and folded in the form of a suit crash victim below the arms.

. g to be worn by the crash victim, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The suit generally comprises a girdle 26 adapted to be worn about the upper portion of the body of the As best shown in FIGURE 3, the girdle is provided with indentations 27 on each side thereof, to accommodate the arms of the crash victim, a vest portion 28 extending across the opening in the girdle, provided with openings'for the head and arms of the crash victim so that the girdle is supported on the shoulders of the crash victim by the vest, and a crash .helmet portion 29 which is adapted to cover a substantial portion of the head of the crash victim. The girdle 26 and crash helmet portion thereof may be constructed of any lightweight material, although it is preferred that such parts be constructed ofstyrofoam. It further is preferred that the crash helmet portion 29 be hingedly secured to the back portion of the girdle so that it may be swung downwardly to cover the opening in the girdle. The capsule member 20, depending from the girdle is folded to provide trouser portions 30 and'31 and a skirt portion 32. The spherical cells 21, in their deflated form,

- later be described. The line 24 also is folded or gathered and stored in an accessible place in thesuit so that the line and attached float 25' can be easily located and thrown into the water when the capsule is beginning its initial ascent.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 4, and 6, the capsule member of the system in its inflated form comprises an inflated toroidal section 34 to which the shroud lines 22 are secured, a lower spreader section 35 consisting of an inflatable toroidal portion 36 and a plurality of cir-. cumferentially spaced, upwardly and outwardly extending spreader arms 37 adapted to be secured to and communicate with the toroidal section 34, and an upper spreader section 38 consisting of a toroidal portion 39 having substantially the same diameter as the toroidal portion 36 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inflatable spreader arms 40 extending downwardly and outwardly, and adapted to be secured to and communicate with the toroidal section 34. The lower spreader section 35 is provided with acover section 41 consisting of a circular bottom portion 42 having the same diameter as toroidal portion 36 and adapted to be secured thereto,

and an inverted frusto-conically shaped portion 43 secured to the spreader arm portions 37 and along its upper edge to the toroidal section 34. The upper spreader section 38 is' covered by a frusto-conically shaped member 44 secured to the spreader arm portions 40 and along the lower edge thereof to the toroidal section 34. The cover member 44 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced windows 45 which may be clear .or tinted, as desired. The upper end of the cover member 44 and. the toroidal portion 39 of the upper spreader sec- 'tion 38 are secured to the lower portion of the girdle 26.

When the toroidal section 34and the upper and lower spreader sections 35 and 38 are inflated the capsule mem ber 20 assumes a form as illustrated in FIGURE 7, having a suflicienttinterior space for comfortably supporting the, crash victim either in the horizontal or "vertical position.

The buoyant means of the system comprises the array of inflatable spherical cells 21, each having an inner cell 45' positioned concentrically relative to the outer spherical cell 21 by means of a connector 46, as shown in FIGURE Referring to-FIGURE 10, each con- 4 nector 46 comprises a cylindrical member 47 extending through registered openings in the inner and outer cells,

having an annular flange portion 48 at the upper end thereof seated on the inner cell and an eyelet 49 at the lower end thereof to which a shroud line 22 is secured. Mounted on the member 47 is an annular spacer member 50 interposed between the inner and outer cells and an annular clamping member 51 disposed on the outside of the outer cell. The inner and outer cells are clamped to the annular flange 48 and the annular member 50 by means of a plurality of bolts and nuts 52. The cylindrical member 47 of the connector 46 also is provided with a passageway 53 adapted to communicate with the inner spherical cell 45 and to which a supply line 54 is connected, and a passageway 55 communicating with the interior of the spherical cell 21 and to which a supply line 56 is connected.

Housed in the front portion of the girdle 26 is the control system for inflating and stabilizing or varying the altitude of the apparatus which is best illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9. The inflating portion of the system generally comprises a cylinder of compressed helium 57, a cylinder of compressed air 58, an air supply valve 59, a metering valve 60, an expansion tank 61 and a master control valve 62. As best illustrated in FIGURE 11, the master control valve 62 is of a sliding piston type comprising a cylindrical housing 63, defining a valve chamber, a piston 64 slidably disposed therein and a biasing element 65 disposed between the bottom wall of the cylindrical housing and the bottom surface of the sliding piston. The cylindrical housing of the master control valve is provided with lower aligned ports 66 and 67, intermediate aligned ports 68 and 69 and upper aligned ports 70 and 71. The piston 64 is provided with a'lower through passageway 72, an intermediate through passageway 73 and an upper through passageway 74. As'noted in the upper illustration in FIGURE 11 of the master control valve, the upper portion of the housing is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced removable stop pins 75 and 76. The biasing element 65 at the lower end of the housing is adapted to urge the piston 64 into engagement with the lower stop pin 75 so that initially, none of the passageways in the piston are registerable with the aligned ports 66 and 67 or ports 70 and 71. It will be noted that when lower stop pin 75 is removed, as illustrated in the second illustration of the valve in FIGURE 11, passageway 74 is adapted to register with ports 70 and 71. In addition, as shown in the third illustration of the control valvein FIGURE 11, when stop pin .76 is removed, the biasing element in the cylindrical housing of the valve will urge the valve 64 upwardly so that the passageway 73 will register with the ports 70, 68 and 69.

I Interconnecting the cylinder of compressed helium 57 and the port 66 of the master control valve is a line 77. Interconnecting the port 67 of the control valve 63 and one opening of the cylinder of compressed air 58 is a line .78. The air sup-ply'valve 59 is connected to the metering valve 60 by means of a line 79. The metering valve 60 is connected to one end of the expansion tank61 by means of a line and the opposite end of the expansion tank 61 is connected to the port 70 of the control valve by means of a line 81.. The port 71 of the control valve 62 is connected to the inflatable sections of the capsule member 20, including the toroidal section 34, the lower spreader section 35 and the upper spreader section 38 by means of a line 82. The ports 68 and 69 communicate with the inner spherical cells 45 by means of lines 83 and. 84, respectively. As shown in FIGURE 9, stop pin 75 is mechanically linked to an actuating pin 85 in the air supply valve 59, so that passageway 74 of the .piston 64 will register with'p o-rts 70 and 71 in the master connected to the fastener 33a so that when stop pin i is removed, release pin 3322 will operate to unfasten the fastener 33a, thereby releasing the belt 33 and permitting the trouser portions 39 and 31 and skirt portion 32 of the folded capsule member to fall free of the users body.

The altitude control portion of the system, as best illustrated in FIGURE 9, comprises a valve member 86, a valve member 87 and a sensing mechanism $8 operative- ]y connected to the valve me nbers $6 and 87 to open and close each of the valves alternately. The valve 86 is connected to the line 82 communicating with the capsule member 2% by means of a line 89 and is connected to the air supply line 55 for the outer spherical cells 21, by means of a line fil. The valve 87 is connected to the air supply line 5:? and also is provided with an exhaust line 91. The sensing mechanism 85, as best shown in FIGURE 12, comprises a spool member 92 journaled in end plate members 573 and $4, which are mounted on the girdle 26. The spool member consists of a cylindrical portion 95 about which the line 24 is wound, having an internally threaded portion as, annular end portions 97 and 9S and outwardly extending annular flange portions $9 and The end plate member 93 is provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange ltll which is adapted to eccive the outwardly projecting flange 97 of the spool member 5 2, so that the spool member will be rotatably mounted therein by means of a plurality or" ball bearings 13 3, an inwardly projecting annular flange are having a smaller diameter than the annular flange wt and an outwardly projectin annular flange laid defining an annular opening therein. The end plate member $4 is provi with an inner projecting annular flange portion i535 ch is adapted to receive the outwardly projecting annular flange 1% and to support the same therein by means of a plurality of ball bearings 1%, an inwardly projecting annular portion 197 having a diameter substantially the same as the annular flange portion 1% of the end plate member and an outwardly prolecting annular flange portion hav a diameter substantially the same flange portion in or" end plate member 5% defining an opening in the end plate member 9 disposed in alignment with the opening defined by outwardly pr ecting annular flange portion d4. Disposed between the outwardly projecting annular flange portion of the spool member 9.2 and the inwardly proiecting annular P e portion H33 or the end plate member 93 is a coil s ring 1E9. Similarly, a coil spring lltl is disposed between and connected to the outwardly projecting annular portion ltill of spool member 92 and the inwardly pro c ting annular flange portion 16? of the end plate member Extending through the openings provided in the end plate members 93 and E 4 and the cylindrical portion 95 of the spool member 92. is a control bar memher 111 mounted on the end plate members $3 and 9% for movement substantially parallel to the axis of the spool member $2. The control bar member 111 is provided with a stylus 112 which engages the internally threaded portion 96 of. the cylindrical portion 5 or" the spool member, so that the bar member is adapted to be moved longitudinally when the spool member .92 is rotate The upper end surfaces of the bar member 11?. are provided with sets of gear teeth 113 and lid which are adapted to engage valve gear 87a, operatively connected to valve 8'7, and valve gear 86a operatively connected to valve 36, alternately, when the bar member ill is moved longitudinally. The sets of gear teeth 113 and 114- are arranged so that when one set engages a valve gear to op n or close its corresponding valve, the other set will be out of engagement with the other valve gear.

The operative components of the sensing mechanism $3 are adjusted so that when the apparatus has assumed a predetermined desired altitude, the valves 85 and 87 will be closed, a length of line 24 substantially corresponding to the predetermined desired altitude will depend from the spool member and the sets of gear teeth will be out of engagement with their respective valve gears. The stylus 112 will be located in the center position, as illustrated in FIGURE 12. In addition, the coil springs will be preloaded sufficiently to rotate the spool member to rewind any slack in the line 24 in the event the capsule member loses altitude, and have suflicient capacity to be loaded additionally in the event the capsule member gains altitude causing the spool member to rotate in the opposite direction.

As previously mentioned, the girdle and the crash helmet portion thereof may be constructed of any lightweight material, although sty-rofoam is preferred. The components of the control system also are constructed of lightweight materials, although lightweight metal or plastic materials are preferred. The cylinders of compressed helium and air may be constructed of wire wound laminated plastic materials haivng high strength characteristics. The component parts of the capsule member are constructed of a lightweight plastic or other material, preferably waterproof and flexible so that they may be folded when deflated to provide the leg and skirt portions of the suit which depend from the girdle and envelope the lower portion of the crash victims body, as best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and3. The inner spherical cells 45, adapted to be inflated with helium to provide the buoyant means for the capsule member, are constructed of any suitable lightweight material having a greater elasticity than the material from which the outer spehrical cells 21 are fabricated, to permit the cells 45 to expand and contract in response to variations in pressure of the air in the cells 21. The shroud lines and the air and helium supply lines are constructed of any suitable lightweight material which may be readily folded and releasably secured to the capsule member.

The survival apparatus in its deflated form, as illustrated in FlGURES 2 and 3, provides a lightweight and compact unit which may be easily stored for use on board an aircraft or a ship. In the event of any such aircraft being forced down at sea, or the sinking of any such ship, it will be appreciated that a survivor quickly and easily may don one of the survivor suits by swinging the crash helmet portion of the girdle to the upright position, stepping into the opening in the girdle and lifting the girdle member up around the upper portion of his body below his arms and adjusting the vest 2% so that the girdle is supported on his shoulders. The survivor is then free to move about so that he may easily abandon the aircraft or ship. When the survivor enters the water, the girdle will serve to keep him afloat for a short period of time, to enable him to inflate the various components of the apparatus.

As soon as the survivor enters the water, the piston of the master control valve is in the position as illustrated in the first view in FIGURE 11. The capsule member is inflated first by removing stop pin so that piston 64 is caused to move upwardly under the action of the spring member 65 to the position shown in the second View in FIGURE 11, whereby a ball cock disposed in a recess in supply line 81, adjacent the control valve, is caused to move'into a rcgisterable recess 116 in the piston 6d, and the passageway 74 registers with supply lines tit and 82. When stop pin 75 is removed, the pin member 35 in air supply valve 5Q simultaneously is removed by means of the connecting mechanical linkage to permit air under pressure in cylinder 55 to be discharged through line '79, metering valve so, line 86, expansion tank 61, line 81 through the control valve and line 82 to inflate the capsule. The supply of air thereby delivered to the capsule is sufiicient to inflate the toroidal section 34 and the upper and lower spreader sections 38 and 35 to provide a form as illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 7. At this point, the capsule member may be utilized as a raft, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. It will be appreciated that when stop pin '75 is removed, release pin 3311 also will be removed to release belt 33.

In the event the survivor desires to lift and maintain himself aloft, he may do so by removingstop pin 76 so that the spring member 65 of the master control valve moves piston 64 in a position as shown in the third view in FIGURE 11, whereby the ball cocks 117 and 118 normally disposed in recesses provided in lines 83 and 84, respectively, adjacent to the control valve are moved into registerable recesses 119 and 12.1) in the piston 64, passageway 73 becomes registered with ports 69, 68 and 70, and passageway 72 becomes registered with lines 77 and 78. With piston 64 in such position, helium under pressure is discharged from the cylinder 57 through line 77, registered passageway 72 in piston '64, line 78, exhausted air cylinder 58, air supply valve 59, line 79, metering valve 60, line 80, expansion tank 61, line 81, passageway 73, helium supply lines 83 and 84 and through supply lines 54 to inflate the inner spherical cells 45.

As soon as the helium has sufficiently inflated the inner spherical cells 45 to displace a suflicient amount of air,a buoyant force is provided causing spherical cells 45 to rise and lift the capsule member 20 out of the water by means of the shroud lines 22. As the capsule begins to rise, the float is thrown intothe water, so that the folded or gathered length of line 24 corresponding to the desired altitude of the capsule, when aloft, will be played out. 7

After the folded line 24 has been played out and become substantially taut, the capsule member 29 will have spherical cells will be inflated to their maximum volume so that the apparatus likely will be lifted beyond the maximum predetermined altitude. As soon as this occurs, the spool member in the sensing mechanism 88 is caused to rotate under the action of the unreeling of the line 24 so that the stylus 112 engaging the internal threads 96 of the cylindrical portion 95 of the spool member with the control bar member 111, is caused to move to the left relative to FIGURE 12 whereby the gear teeth 114 engage the valve gear 86a to open valve 86, thus permitting a portion of the air under pressure provided by the operation of a hand pump 121 to be supplied through line 89, valve 86, line 90 and line to the outer spherical cells 21. The valve 87 normally will be in the closed position when the valve 86 is in the open position, so that all of the air which is supplied from the hand pump will be delivered to the outer spherical cells 21. The supply 'of air from the hand pump to the outer spherical cells 21 causes the inner cells 45 to be compressed, thereby decreasing their volume and, correspondingly, their displacement. Accordingly, the buoyant force provided by the inner spherical cells 45 will be decreased to prevent .any further increase in altitude and, further, to reduce the buoyant force sufficiently to lower the apparatus below the predetermined maximum altitude. As this occurs, the spool member of the sensing mechanism is caused to rotate in the opposite direction under the action of the coil springs 109 and 110 to rewind the slack provided in the line 24 as the result of the lowering of the capsule member. The rotation of the, spool member 92 in the opposite direction also causes the control bar member 111 to move to the right relative to FIGURE 12, so that the gearteeth 114 engaging the valve gear 8611 will cause the valve 86 to be closed.

Whenever the capsule member descends to an altitude lower than the predetermined minimum altitude, slack will. be developed in the line 24, thus permitting the spool member .92 to rotate under the action of the coil springs 169 and 11%, whereby the control bar member 112 is caused to move further to the right relative to 7 g FIGURE 12. As this occurs, the gear teeth 113 engage the valve gear 87a, thus causing the valve 87 to open, while the valve 86 remains closed, to exhaust air from the outer spherical cells 21 through line 55, valve 87 and exhaust line 91. As air is discharged from the outer spherical cells 21, the pressure of the air. on the inner spherical cells 45 correspondingly will be decreased, thus permitting the volume of the inner spherical cells 45 to increase. The increase in the volume of the inner spherical cells 45 provides a greater displacement of helium, thereby increasing the buoyant force to lift the capsule at least above the'predetermined minimum altitude. As

soon as the predetermined minimum altitude has been assumed by the capsule, the spool member 92 will be rotated a sufficient numberof revolutions to reload the coil springs 1%? and and move the control bar member 111 to the left relative to FIGURE 12, closing valve member 87 and thereby terminating the discharge of air from the outer spherical cells 21.

It has been found that only a small amount of increase or decrease in the air pressure in the'outer spherical cells 21 is required to regulate the displacement and, correspondingly, the buoyant effect of the inner spherical cells 45 inflated with helium. However, in the event that there is an appreciable loss of pressure in the capsule, the hand pump 121 is provided to replenish the supply of air in the capsule, as may be desired.

The spherical cells 21 and 45 may be of any suitable number and size, although it has been found that six outer spherical cells, each having a diameterof twelve feet, and a corresponding number of inner spherical cells, each having a diameter slightly less than twelve feet, adapted to be disposed in a circular arrangement as shown in FIGURE 1, is preferred. Inaddition, the. toroidal section of the capsule member is preferred to have an outside diameter of seven feet and the capsule member a height of about five feet. To inflate and operate such an apparatus, a minimum supply of 3000 p.s.i. of helium and 525 p.s.i. of air has been found to be required.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as Within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising aninflatable support means for supporting said victim in a medium, inflatable buoyant means having a sufficient buoyant force for'lifting and maintaining said inflatable support means supporting said victim aloft connected to said support means, a first means for inflating said support means, a second means for inflating said buoyant means and means responsive to predetermined altitudes for selectively regulating the displacement of said buoyant means.

2. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable support means for supporting said victim in a medium, a first means for inflating said support means, at least one inflatable cell having an expansible wall connected to said support means, a second means for inflating said cell with a gashaving a specific density less than that of air to provide a buoyant force suflicient for lifting and maintaining said inflatable support means supporting said victim aloft and means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the displacement of said cell.

3. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable support means for supporting said victim, at least one inflatable first cell connected to said support means, an inflatable second cell disposed in said first cell having a wall more expansible than the wall of said first cell, first supply means for inflating said support means and said first cell 9 with a gas under a predetermined first pressure, second supply means for inflating said second cell with a gas having a specific density less than the gas in said first cell under a predetermined second pressure and means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of gas in said first cell whereby the displacement of said second cell will be correspondingly regulated.

4. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crasl victim alott comprising an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule, each of said spherical cells having an inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the walls of said outer cells, first supply means for infiating said capsule and said outer cells with air under a predetermined first pressure, a second supply means for inflating the inner cells with helium under a predetermined second pressure, control means for inflating said capsule and said outer cells and said inner cells in a predetermined sequence and means responsive to preetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air in said outer cells whereby the displacement of the inner.

cells will be correspondingly regulated.

5. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule, each of said spherical cells having an inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and having means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell, said inner cells having Walls more expansible than the Walls of said outer cells, supply lines interconnecting said outer spherical cells and said capsule, an air supply source, an air supply line interconnecting said air supply source and said capsule, helium supply source, supply lines interconnecting said helium supply source and said inner cells, control means for supplying air from said air supply source to said capsule and said outer cells and helium from said helium supply source to said inner cells in sequence, and means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air in said outer cells whereby the displacement of said inner cells will be correspondingly regulated.

6. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable support means for supporting said victim, at least one inflatable first cell connected to said support means, an inflatable second cell disposed in said first cell having a wall more enpansible than the wall of said first cell, first supply means for inflating said inflatable support means with air under a predetermined first pressure, a second supply means for inflating the inner cells with a gas having a density less than air under a predetermined second pressure, first control means for inflating said capsule and said inner cells in a predetermined sequence and second control means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells whereby the displacement of the inner cells will be correspondingly regulated.

7. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable support means for supporting said victim, a plurality of cells connected to said support means, each of said cells having an inner cell having a wall more expansible than the wall of said first cell, first supply means for inflating said inflatable support means with air unoer a predetermined first pressure, a second supply means for inflating the inner cells with helium under a predetermined second pressure, first control means for inflating said capsule and said inner cells in sequence, and second control means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells whereby the displacement of the inner cells will be correspondingly regulated.

8. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule, each of said spherical cells having an inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and having means positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell, said inner cells having Walls more expansible than the Walls of said outer cells, an air supply source, an air supply line interconmeeting said air supply source and said capsule, a helium supply source, helium supply lines interconnecting said helium supply source and said inner cells, first control means for supplying air from said air supply source to said capsule and helium from said helium supply source to said inner cells in sequence, supply lines interconnecting said capsule and said outer cells, and second control means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating a supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells whereby the displacement of the inner cells will be correspondingly regulated.

9. A survival system suitable for lifting and maintaining a crash victim aloft comprising an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule, each of said spherical cells having an inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and having means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell, said inner cells having walls more expansi ble than the Walls of said outer cells, a compressed air supply, an air supply line interconnecting said compressed air supply and said capsule, a compressed helium supply, supply lines interconnecting said compressed helium supply and said inner cells, a first valve means having actuating means for supplying air from said compressed air supply to said capsule and helium from said compressed helium supply to said inner cells in sequence, supply lines interconnecting said capsule and said outer cells, a second valve for controlling the supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells, a third valve for controlling the discharge of air from said outer cells, means responsive to predetermined maximum and minimum altitudes operative-1y connected to said second and third valves for selectively opening said second valve when said capsule has ascended to an altitude greater than said predetermined maximum altitude whereby air is supplied from said capsule to said outer cells to reduce the displacement of said inner cells and opening said third valve Whenthe capsule has descended to an altitude lower than said predetermined minimum altitude whereby air is discharged from said outer cells to permit a greater displacement of said inner cells and pumping means for providing a compensating supply of air to said capsule.

10. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprising a girdle means adapted to be supported on said crash victim, an inflatable support means secured to said girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body of said crash victim, said girdle means having a first means for inflating said support means, inflatable buoyant means connected to said support means and foldable adjacent said support means when deflated, said girdle means having a second means for inflating said buoyant means, means connected to said girdle means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the displacement of said buoyant means when inflated and releasable means for securing said support means and said buoyant means in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

11. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprisinga girdle I means adapted to be supported on saidcrash victlm, an

inflatable support means secured to said girdle means and foldable to provide a receptacle for the lower portion of the body of said crash victim, said girdle means having a first means for inflating said support means, at

least one inflatable cell having an expansible wall connected to said support means and foldable adjacent said support means when deflated, said girdle means having a second means for inflating said cell with a gas having a I specific density less than that of air, means connected to 12. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either first cell, said girdle means having a first means for inflating said support means and said first cell with air under a predetermined first pressure, said girdle means having a second supply means for inflating said second cell with a gas having a specific density less than'air under a predetermined second pressure, means connected to said girdle means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the'supply of air in said first cell whereby the displacement of said second cell will be correspondingly regulated when said first and second cel-ls'are inflated and releasable means for securing said support means and said first and second cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

13. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprising girdle means having means for supporting the same on said crash victim, an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim secured to said girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body and legs of said crash victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule when deflated, each of said spherical cells having an inflatable and foldable inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell when said inner and outer cells are inflated, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the walls of said outer cells, said girdle means having first lmeans for inflating said capsule and said first cell with predetermined sequence, means connected to said girdle responsive to predetermined'altitudes for regulating the supply of air in said outer cells whereby the displacement of said inner cells will be correspondingly regulated when said inner and outer cells are inflated and releasable means for securing saidsupport means and said inner and outer cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim. 7

14. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by va crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and mainv v 7 i2 i taining saidcrash victirntaloit comprising girdle means having means for supporting :thesame on the upper portion of the body of said crash victim, an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim secured to said girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body and legs of said crash victim, va plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule when deflated, each of said spherical cells having an inflatable and foldable inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said ,outer cell when said inner and outer cells are inflated, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the Walls of said outer cells, supply lines interconnecting said'outer spherical cells and said capsule foldable adjacent said capsule, said girdle means having an air supply source, an air supply lineinterconnecting said air supply source and said capsule and foldableadjacent'said capsule, said girdle means having a helium supply source su'pply lines interconnecting said helium supply source and said inner cells and'foldable adjacent saidcapsule, control means mounted on said girdle for supplying air from said air predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air in said outer cells whereby the displacement of said inner cells will be correspondingly regulated when said inner and outer cells are inflated and releasable means for securing said support means and said inner and outer cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

15. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprising girdle means having means for supporting the same on theupper portion of the body of said crash victim, an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim secured to the girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body and legs of said crash victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule when deflated, each of said spherical cells having an inflatable and foldable inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of HS corresponding outer cell and means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell when said inner and outer cells are inflated, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the Walls of said outer cells, said girdle means having first means for inflating said capsule with air under a predetermined first pressure, said girdle means having a second means for inflating said second cell with helium under a predetermined second pressure, first control means mounted on said girdle means for controlling the supply of air and helium to inflate said capsule and said inner cells in sequence, second control means mounted on said girdle means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating the supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells whereby the displacement of said inner cells will be correspondingly regulated when said inner and outer cells are inflated and releasable means for securing said capsule and said inner and outer cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

16. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprising girdle means having means for supporting the same on the upper portion of the body of said crash victim, an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim secured to said i girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body and legs of said crash victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule when deflated, each of said spherical cells having an inflatable and foldable inner spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell when said inner and outer cells are inflated, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the walls of said outer cells, an air supply source mounted on said girdle means, an air supply line interconnecting said air supply source and said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule, a helium supply source mounted on said girdle means, helium supply lines interconnecting said helium supply source and said inner cells, first control means mounted on said girdle means for controlling the supply of air through said supply lines and helium through said helium supply lines in sequence, supply lines interconnecting said capsule and said outer cells, second control means mounted on said girdle means responsive to predetermined altitudes for regulating a supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells whereby the displacement of said inner cells will be correspondingly regulated when said inner and outer cells are inflated and releasable means for securing said capsule, said supply lines and said inner and outer cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

17. A survival apparatus adapted to be worn by a crash victim and convertible to a form suitable either for maintaining said crash victim afloat or lifting and maintaining said crash victim aloft comprising girdle means having means for supporting the same on the upper portion of the body of said crash victim, an inflatable capsule for supporting said victim secured to said girdle means and foldable to envelope the lower portion of the body and legs of said crash victim, a plurality of inflatable spherical cells connected to said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule when deflated, each of said spherical cells having an inflatable and foldable spherical cell having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of its corresponding outer cell and means for positioning said inner cell concentric relative to said outer cell when said inner and outer cells are inflated, said inner cells having walls more expansible than the walls of said outer cells, a compressed air supply mounted on said girdle means, an air supply line interconnecting said compressed air supply and said capsule and foldable adjacent said capsule, a compressed helium supply mounted on said girdle means, helium supply lines interconnecting said compressed helium supply and said inner cells and foldable adjacent said capsule, a first valve means mounted on said girdle means having actuating means for supply- .ing air from said compressed air supply to saidcapsule and helium from said compressed helium supply to said inner cells in sequence, supply lines interconnecting said capsule and said outer cells and foldable adjacent said capsule, a second valve mounted on said girdle means for controlling the supply of air from said capsule to said outer cells, a third valve mounted on said girdle means for controlling the discharge of air ifIOIIl said outer cells, means responsive to predetermined maximum and minimum altitudes operatively connected to said second and third valves for selectively opening said second valve when said capsule has ascended above said predetermined maximum altitude whereby air is supplied from said capsule to said outer cells to reduce the displacement of said inner cells and opening said third valve when the capsule has descended below said predetermined minimum altitude whereby air is discharged from said outer cells to permit a greater displacement of said inner cells, pumping means mounted on said girdle means for providing a compensating supply of air for said capsule and releasable means for securing said capsule, said supply lines and said inner and outer cells in their folded positions adjacent the body of the crash victim.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,492,800 12/49 Isom 244-31 2,629,115 2/53 Hansen 9 11.1

2,928,108 3/60 Cochrane 92.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,127,913 8/56 France.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SURVIVAL SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR LIFTING AND MAINTAINING A CRASH VICTIM ALOFT COMPRISING AN INFLATABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID VICTIM IN A MEDIUM, INFLATABLE BUOYANT MEANS HAVING A SUFFICIENT BUOYANT FORCE FOR LIFTING AND MAINTAINING SAID INFLATABLE SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID VICTIM ALOFT CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A FIRST MEANS FOR INFLATING SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A SECOND MEANS FOR INFLATING SAID BUOYANT MEANS AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PREDETERMINED ALTITUDES FOR SELECTIVELY REGULATING THE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID BUOYANT MEANS. 